A public food forest near Lady Bird Lake in East Austin is currently expanding its reach. The Festival Beach Food Forest recently finished the planning phase of its expansion project in June and has now moved on to the second phase. The volunteer-led initiative has already planted over 100 trees in the food forest, with plans to grow it from less than an acre to 3.5 acres on public land.
The Festival Beach Food Forest aims to not only provide free food and medicine but also create a space for community engagement and education. Angelina Alanis, the nonprofit’s communications and partnerships coordinator, highlighted the importance of integrating the food forest into daily life through workshops and events. Monthly activities such as Sunday yoga sessions and plant walks on the first Saturday of each month are already in place.
To fund the second phase of the expansion project, the nonprofit is looking to raise $400,000. So far, they have secured $40,000 through grants and donations, including a Food and Climate Equity grant from the city. The food forest originally opened in 2012 as the city’s first public food forest and is located next to housing for low-income seniors and the Festival Beach Community Garden.
In order to support the growth of the food forest, the nonprofit is seeking both weekday and weekend volunteers. Currently, the food forest receives around 650 hours of work per month from 50 core volunteers and 150 rotating volunteers. Volunteer opportunities range from hands-on tasks like mulching and weeding to more administrative roles such as fundraising and community outreach.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, a food forest is a forest ecosystem that incorporates fruit and nut-producing trees, herbs, berries, mushrooms, and other types of produce. These forests are designed to mimic natural ecosystems and provide communities with a sustainable source of food. Public food forests can vary in size but are all aimed at connecting people with nature and promoting environmental stewardship.
If you are interested in getting involved with the Festival Beach Food Forest, you can find more information about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events on their website. By supporting this urban garden, you can contribute to a more sustainable and connected community in East Austin.